FemSport started 11 years ago in British Columbia and is being held in Alberta for the first time this year. In early June, I competed in the novice division in Calgary. On July 21st, I will lead my team the “Agility Angels” to a new personal victory in the Edmonton-area event at Johnny B Fitt in Fort Saskatchewan.

We work on all events to improve, but my least favourite event has to be the tire drag. It’s much heavier than it looks and my best event is the DREADED box jumps.

My family and friends have been so supportive of my training. My husband has built me several pieces of equipment. My 57-year-old mom attends my FemSport training camps at PHAT Training and my five-year-old daughter has been known to flip a few tires, too.

The tire drag, says Jen, is such a drag.

I was first attracted to FemSport late in 2011 when I attended a workshop led by president Nancy Lockington and I was INSPIRED. She was so warm, inviting and I felt an instant connection to FemSport. At that time I had never even jumped on a box, let alone one 18 inches high. YIKES! But after I flipped my first tire, I was hooked.

Five years ago, after the birth of my children I was an unmotivated, overweight (over 200 lbs), depressed woman who didn’t exercise. I wanted to be a better role model for my kids and have the energy to keep up with them. Now, not only am I a competitor, but I’m also an official FemSport trainer and certified personal trainer.

My favourite thing about FemSport is the friendly attitudes of the competitors and that the competition focuses on strength, speed, agility and HEART. FemSport is about women empowering women. Whether we WIN or LOSE, we do our best and THAT makes us “our own CHAMPIONS.”

Come join us July 21st 10am-5pm @ Johnny B Fitt and help cheer us to VICTORY!!!

About Cary

Cary Castagna is a certified personal trainer through Can-Fit-Pro and a former competitive bodybuilder. In seven years as a Sun Media fitness columnist, he has interviewed industry icons such as Jack LaLanne, Billy Blanks, Jake Steinfeld, Denise Austin, Tony Horton and Richard Simmons. His Keeping Fit column runs in more than 30 Sun Media newspapers across Canada.